Five days before they open their home World Cup, the United States got the kind of test that flatters no one. Germany beat them 2-1 in Chicago on June 6, a defeat that exposed familiar defensive lapses even as it offered Mauricio Pochettino's side a moment of genuine quality to cling to (ESPN).
It was the USMNT's final tune-up — the Coca-Cola Send-Off — in front of a sold-out, record crowd of 63,636 at Soldier Field (US Soccer).
USA 1-2 Germany, Soldier Field, June 6 — a sold-out crowd of 63,636 for the hosts' last match before the opener. Source: US Soccer
How the game turned
Germany struck inside three minutes, Kai Havertz heading home a dangerous Joshua Kimmich free-kick before the home crowd had settled (CBS Sports). The early concession set a worrying tone for a defence that has wobbled against elite movement all cycle.
Then came the moment of the night. After a Christian Pulisic corner was half-cleared to the top of the box, Antonee Robinson met it first-time with his left foot and volleyed a 23-yard screamer past Oliver Baumann to level it before half-time (US Soccer).
The parity did not last. Havertz turned provider in the 57th minute, releasing Leroy Sané to restore Germany's lead as the US defence was caught flat (CBS Sports). Two goals, two avoidable breakdowns — the through-line of the night.
What Pochettino learned
The Argentine fielded a side close to his projected first-choice XI, having mixed starters and reserves in a 3-2 win over Senegal a week earlier (NPR). The wide areas — Sergiño Dest and Robinson overlapping — looked a genuine attacking outlet against a top-eight nation.
The defensive transitions did not. Conceding from a set-piece header inside three minutes, then again on a simple ball in behind, is exactly the profile that gets punished in a knockout. Pochettino, for his part, said his team could be "happy" with the performance against the world's 10th-ranked side (Yahoo Sports).
!Going toe-to-toe with a top-eight nation is one thing; doing it without gifting two goals is the brief for June 12.
The opener that matters
The results stop mattering now. The USA begin Group D against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12, the headline act of opening weekend (CBS Sports). As co-hosts with a kind run to the latter stages if they advance, the pressure is to escape the group and chase a deep run on home soil.
The Germany defeat is the right lesson at the right time: the attack can hurt anyone, but the back line has three days to tighten up.
The verdict
No alarm, but no complacency either. Robinson's goal will headline the highlight reel; the two Germany broke through will headline Pochettino's video session.
Read the bigger picture in our USA host-nation hopes, map the section in the Group D preview, and back the hosts on the predictions page.
Sources
- ESPN — USA 1-2 Germany final score
- US Soccer — Match recap: Antonee Robinson goal and highlights
- CBS Sports — USMNT vs Germany score and live updates
- NPR — Takeaways from the USMNT's final tune-ups
Kickoff XI is an independent publication and is not affiliated with FIFA.
